Murcia and Spanish news round-up week ending 1st June 2018

A tumultuous week with an abrupt change in the Spanish government

Lead image: A new day dawns in Los Alcázares........

Well, what a week in Spain! As recently as last Friday it was breaking news that Pedro Sánchez of the PSOE party had registered a motion of no confidence in the national PP government, following the publication of verdicts in the Gürtel corruption trial, and seven days on he is now preparing to take over as President and form a new government.

This ends a tumultuous series of political discussions, pacts, promises and, in the end, agreements, which finally led to the PSOE’s motion being backed not only by the Unidos Podemos party, but also by Basque and Catalan separatist MPs. The result: 180 votes in favour, 169 against and 1 abstention, and without the electorate having a say Pedro Sánchez becomes the seventh President of the Spanish government since the end of the Francoist era.

Just as last October, when a declaration of independence was made in the regional parliament of Catalunya, Spain now enters uncharted waters, as this is the first successful motion of no confidence to have been tabled. But it is almost certain that there will be significant changes in the coming weeks, and many could have a direct effect on the Region of Murcia.

The probable ramifications include changes in Murcia in the people occupying posts for which they are nominated at State level, and one of those who will surely be replaced quickly is Francisco Bernabé, the central government delegate to the Region, the representative of the Spanish government here in the region. Sr Bernabé (pictured meeting King Felipe VI earier this week) has in-depth knowledge of major projects such as the new airport in Corvera, the AVE high-speed rail links to Murcia, Cartagena and Lorca, the regeneration of Portmán bay and the proposed macro-port in El Gorguel, all of which he dealt with while serving as minister for Development and Infrastructures in the PP regional government.

Despite this familiarity with important projects, though any hopes that he might remain in the post were probably dashed on Thursday evening when he commented on Twitter that Pedro Sánchez’s motion of no confidence was the act of a “vile traitor”.

His departure is likely to go hand in hand with that of other high ranking appointments, the other key posts which will most likely be affected as key PP figures are replaced with PSOE personnel being the head of the Cartagena Port Authority, the head of CHS and the head of Aena. Quite what the ramifications will be for sensitive issues such as the transfer of operations from San Javier airport to Corvera, the El Gorguel macro-container port and the water transfers without which the region would suffer water shortages remains to be seen.

It could be argued that nothing is ever certain in politics, particularly Spanish politics, but at present the level of uncertainty is even higher than usual. How the Region of Murcia will be affected remains unclear, but with so many important projects currently under way or in the pipeline there will be even more anxiety than ever to ensure that they go ahead smoothly.

The vote of no confidence is already causing unease in many circles as the only means of securing the support needed to oust Mariano Rajoy has involved a pact with Catalan and Basque separatist parties which have already made it clear that they expect the new leader to fulfil the promises he has made them. The Catalan separatism crisis has in itself been a major catalyst for political and social unrest, and the potential effects of this vote of no confidence are far reaching.

Away from the unprecedented political developments, though, there has been plenty to talk about in the Region of Murcia, with planning irregularities in Camposol, the Mar Menor and furious disagreements over the AVE high-speed rail route to Cartagena taking many of the headlines.

Investigations into Camposol planning irregularities begin again

Over two years after investigations into possible deliberate breaches of planning regulations in relation to the construction of the Camposol residential development in the north of the municipality of Mazarrón were shelved, the case has been reopened by the public prosecutor’s office in the light of documentation received from the regional parliamentary committee which recently concluded its own investigation into the urbanization.

The CRA Residents' Association issued a statement saying that it "welcomes the news that the Public Prosecutor is investigating the Camposol situation, as while in itself it will not instigate any physical change, it will shine the spotlight of justice on those responsible for the urbanisation's plight and may act as motivation for those with the power to act or influence matters, to do so without delay".

This situation, of course, may be amongst those now to be influenced by the shift of power in Madrid as a change at the head of the CHS may affect the process of creating a working party to examine possible ways to resolve the infrastructural irregularities, as has been recommended by the parliamentary commission. If you haven´t seen the extensive report, are comfortably seated, and ready for a good long read, then click here to see a translation...

Airport and tourism news

Filming of Terminator 6 in Corvera, preparations begin on Monday: access roads to Corvera airport will be transformed into Mexican highways for the shooting of the latest Terminator sequel.

4.4 per cent fewer foreign visitors to Spain during April: the early Easter took its toll on the April figures, but there does appear to be a slow-down in the growth of international tourism in this country, with visitor numbers up by only 2.3 per cent so far this year.

Lorca beach acquires official nudist status as of 1st June: The Spanish Naturism Federation lists as many as 10 nudist beaches in the municipality of Lorca, including, rather surprisingly, the Playa de Puntas de Calnegre, but Cala Junquera became the first officially designated one on Friday.

Blue Flags will fly again at Mar Menor beaches, says Murcia president: Fernando López Miras is optimistic regarding the latest water quality measurements, and expressed confidence in the project for the recovery and regeneration of the marine environment in the lagoon.

Bats to the rescue as Alhama Town Hall declares war on mosquitos: 46 bat boxes to house animals which can eat as many as 3,000 insects each in a single night.

Gruesome sperm whale exhibit turns heads at Cartagena art festival: a sculpture of the Cabo de Palos whale which was killed by plastic turns heads at the Mucho Más Mayo festival in Cartagena and raises awareness of the problems of plastic waste in our oceans.

Over 500 staff on duty every day as peak wild fire season begins in Murcia: two thirds of all wild fires in Murcia last year were caused by arson or negligence on the part of the general public.

Seaweed to be removed from the marina of Los Nietos next week: great care is being taken not to harm the protected Spanish toothcarp, which inhabits this part of the Mar Menor and enjoys the shade provided by floating vegetation..

Other stories in the Murcia news this week

4-degree earthquake shakes Caravaca and Moratalla: the tremor occurred just before 9.00 on Saturday evening and was also felt in Socovos and Yeste.

Registration for next season open at the Real Madrid Foundation school in Mazarrón: children aged 5 to 17 are invited to apply for the 2018-19 football academy run by the 2018 Champions League winners.

Los Nietos man arrested after ten burglaries in local holiday homes: electronic goods were removed from empty properties and fenced on the black market.

New motor racing circuit to open in Fuente Álamo by the end of 2018: the Los Milanos circuit is located in the north of Fuente Álamo near the Sierra de Carrascoy.

Cartagena Mayoress furious at AVE high-speed rail decision: Ana Belén Castejón claims that Cartagena is neglected in comparison with Lorca and Murcia after the Ministry of Development decides that the rail infrastructures management company Adif will construct an overground high-speed line into the existing station. The Mayoress is adamant that an underground route is necessary, like those which are under way in Murcia and planned in Lorca.

Jumilla budget includes the start of work to complete the wine museum: 150,000 euros for the museum, which will provide a boost to wine tourism in the area. Meanwhile, Jumilla wineries have been wooing the Asian market at a Hong Kong trade fair: Asia accounts for around 10 per cent of all Spanish wine exports, and Hong Kong is the third most important importer in the area after China and Japan.

Domestic electricity bills in Spain the highest in May for four years: consumer organizations warn of a 10 per cent increase in the tariff over the last month.

Murcia and Spanish property news

Early Easter brings drop in Spanish mortgage activity in March: there were 5.2 per cent fewer property mortgages than in the same month last year, more or less matching the drop of 3.1 per cent in the number of residential properties bought and sold during March, and 12 of the 17 regions of Spain showed year-on-year decreases in mortgage activity.

Murcia was among them, with a fall of 14.7 per cent being reported despite the fact that the number of sales actually increased by 6.4 per cent, and at the same time the average loan capital involved in the Region was 80,075 euros, 5.8 per cent higher than in the third month of 2017.

Increased rental prices stimulate more property buying in Spain: with interest rates low, mortgages are more affordable than renting for many buyers, and this contributes to there being a more dynamic market in terms of sales figures and prices.

Sharp property price increases forecast this year in Málaga, the Balearics, Madrid and Valencia: prices could rise by 10 per cent in these areas in 2018, slowing down in 2019, say CBRE, due to the current imbalance between supply and demand in the areas specified. Available housing, particularly new build, is relatively scarce, exactly the opposite of the conditions which brought about the collapse in the market a decade ago.

Spanish news round-up: little room for other stories with the events in the national parliament but measures against plastic pollution hit the headlines

Unsurprisingly the Spanish press are concentrating almost exclusively on the change in government at present, but there have also been other stories hitting the headlines throughout the week.

One of them is also a follow-up of the Gürtel corruption trial verdicts which forced Mariano Rajoy out of office, with special interest focusing on Luis Bárcenas, the former PP treasurer at the heart of the case. Sr Bárcenas returned to prison on Monday afternoon and will be spending time in the familiar surroundings of the jail of Soto del Real, where he spent 19 months between May 2013 and January 2015 until he was finally released after paying bail of 200,000 euros. At that point the risk of his fleeing the country in order to escape imprisonment for his role in the mass misappropriation of public funds which he himself helped to uncover was deemed to be sufficiently low for him to be granted conditional liberty, but now, having been received a 33-year sentence, he is considered once again likely to attempt to use his hidden fortune to find a way out of this country, and as such is to be held prisoner as a preventative measure while he prepares an appeal.

Later in the week, though, his wife, who was given a 15-year sentence, was allowed free after paying another 200,000 euros in bail.

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